These are the sort of things that Penistone people do for leisure, sport and entertainment. For more details, please see the Clubs and Societies links page.
Sport in Penistone
Penistone has a Cricket Club (Spring Vale), Bowling Club and Penistone Church Football Club, with senior and junior teams. Penistone Footpath Runners are based at the Football Club and enjoy a healthy following, with events scattered throughout the year. Their 10km hill race on Show day is particularly popular, drawing runners from all over the country. PFR runners attend all of the national events.
Penistone has a sports centre ('Leisure Centre') with karate, five-a-side football, various exercise machines, dance classes, junior classes and a multi-gym. Across the road is a private swimming pool for anyone to book. Penistone & District Angling Club has a long history and welcomes new members. On the Showground, you will find a skateboard park, a kick wall and often a Junior football team will arrive or horsey activities such as gymkhana. At other times, kids will take a ball there, to the recreation ground on Church View Road (next to PCFC) or to Water hall park for a kick-around.
Outside Penistone, there is Pennine Sailing Club at Dunford and the Rambler's Association has events in this area. Penistone Line Partnership puts musical events on specific train journeys between Huddersfield and Sheffield on the Penistone line but they also organise station to station walks, which take in the pubs. The Round Table are involved with many popular local events and they also organise walks, such as the Boundary Walk.
On the Stage
Penistone has long had a thespian tradition. Both of these societies are happy to accept new budding thespians of all ages.
Art and History , Etc.
Penistone does not have a museum but the High Street Card Shop has works of art. Cawthorne village has a small museum a few miles away and Wortley Top Forge is a kind of living museum, with all sorts of steam-driven machinery. Local historian Neville Roebuck is trying to find a home for a display of local historical materials. Perhaps the old National School (c.1822) - if that silly boy will stop bouncing a ball on its broken roof. Somebody ought to do up the old Swallow's hairdressing shop for it. (Is that tub of Brylcreem still there? I need to know.) Of course, our fine church is a piece of history in itself. The tower alone is half a millenium old.
Music
Thurlstone Brass Band is a highly regarded local asset and a welcome sound at any event. Thurlstone used to have the Handbell Ringers which changed its name to Thurlstone Bell Orchestra, then disappeared. Penistone Church Bells are rung by an enthusiastic team every Thursday evening and at weddings. Millhouse Green Male Voice Choir has been around for a long time and there is another one at Bolsterstone. Someone said that Penistone 'Sing' might make a come-back. Of course, the organ concerts in the Town Hall are very popular.
Photography
Penistone Camera Club is another organisation with a very long history, who always has a busy marquee at Penistone Show. The Show is an occasion when the public can submit their own best photos to win a prize.
The Younger End
Youths use the Skateboard Park mentioned above but there is also a Youth Club. This is the Surf and Snack Shack and is located just off the High Street, opposite Ward Street. Penistone Scouts (and the old 'Girl Guides') is another society with a long history. It has a large dedicated meeting place on Wentworth Road, where loonie drivers deposit and collect their offspring, who must be too tired to walk. There is also a Brownies section for the little sprogs. The theatrical groups mentioned above also take budding actors and actresses.
